Proper Etiquette When Moving With Your Dog

No matter how well-behaved, dogs disrupt the home-buying
process. However, it’s not practical to board a pet for months while selling a
home and moving, so homeowners have to get creative about keeping pets out of
the way. These helpful tips will guide you to good dog etiquette throughout
your move.

Buying a Home

Thankfully, it’s not too difficult to keep
pets out of the home buying process since most of the action happens away from
home. However, there are some pet owner faux pas you should be aware of.

Bringing dogs to open houses is one thing all home
buyers should avoid. Service dogs are an exception to this rule, but otherwise
pet owners should leave dogs at home when attending an open house or private
home viewing. In some scenarios, a realtor may approve a dog-friendly viewing,
but this must be coordinated in advance.

Unfortunately, that makes it harder to stop by
an open house on a whim. If you discover a great house while out with your dog,
leave your pet outside while you gather the realtor’s contact information. That
way, you can schedule a showing for another date and avoid upsetting the
homeowner.

Selling a Home

Selling your home is where pet etiquette becomes
a significant concern. Pets can detract from your home’s value, so it’s imperative
that homeowners manage dogs appropriately throughout the selling process.

Remove all signs of
dogs from your house. This includes pet hair, bedding, food and food dishes,
pet waste, treats, and toys, which contribute to unsightly clutter and
unpleasant odors. Additionally, repair any pet damage before staging your
house. Even minor damage like scratches on a back door can impact your home’s
sale.

Try to keep your dog crated or restricted to a single
room whenever realtors, contractors, or other professionals are at your house.
Unless your dog is very well-behaved and does not jump or bark, his presence
could cause issues for people trying to work.

During open houses and private home showings,
dogs should be kept off the premises. Spending a few hours exploring nearby parks is a great way to get
out of the house with your dog. Only need to get away for an hour or so? Grab a
bite to eat at a dog-friendly cafe.

Moving House

Moving day is the last major hurdle in the
home buying process. If kept in the house, dogs pose a tripping hazard to
movers and prevent them from accessing every part of the home. Caring for a dog
also distracts homeowners who need to focus on coordinating the moving team.
Instead of risking an accident or adding stress to your move, arrange for an overnight stay with a dog sitter.

Boarding your dog not only benefits you and
your movers, but it’s good for your pet too. Moving is chaotic and dogs are
easily stressed by the upheaval. Sending dogs off-site lets them relax until
the new house is furnished with familiar belongings. When you do bring them
home, introduce dogs to the new house slowly to prevent behavioral problems. If your pup is
particularly stubborn, consider
using a training collar. This can also be helpful at speeding up the training
process. Keeping dogs restricted to a single room for the first few days gives
them time to get comfortable before facing a big, strange house.

Relocating isn’t easy for anyone, but families
with pets have additional considerations to factor into their moving itinerary.
Keep the process running as smoothly as possible by following this advice and
talking to your realtor about the best way to manage your pet during the move.